American Association of Museums to Continue Lead Role in Museum Assessment Program

Washington, DC, 2/1/2011 – The American Association of Museums (AAM) has been awarded a three-year cooperative agreement by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to continue administering the Museum Assessment Program (MAP). MAP enables museums to achieve excellence in operations and planning through a process of self-study and peer review thereby empowering them to better fulfill their mission of public service.

“MAP provides a structured, systematic means for museums across America to examine their operations and see where and how they can do better,” said AAM president Ford W. Bell. “The pillars of the public service mandate of all museums are scholarship, accountability, sustainability and community engagement; MAP likewise has its roots in these qualities, and has enabled museums to better serve their communities.”

In its 30 years, MAP has provided more than 6,000 assessments to over 4,200 institutions across America. From 1981 to 2005, MAP was a grant program from IMLS administered by AAM. Beginning in 2006, MAP began administering the program through a cooperative agreement to simplify the process for participants and enable smaller museums to have free access to the program. The new agreement maintains the hallmarks of the program while adding more resources and training to increase the capacity of participating museums. “IMLS is proud to support the American Association of Museums’ Museum Assessment Program,” said Marsha L. Semmel, acting director of IMLS. “This program helps build the capacity of hundreds of small and medium-sized museums to serve their communities.” About AAMThe American Association of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community.

About the Institute of Museum and Library ServicesThe Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.